The United Way supports many programs ans organizations in and around Estevan. One group that you may not be familiar with is the Estevan Family and Friends.

"We're a local organization that supports people with intellectual disabilities in and around Estevan," explained President, Roberta Derosier.

"We do three things. One is we advocate for people with disabilities. We also help educate the public because a lot of our public has few little or no experience with being around people with disabilities. And the third one is a big focus of what we use the United Way funding for and that is providing opportunities for people with disabilities that they wouldn't normally have."

"I always use the example of if I wanted to go out tonight to a movie or I want to go to a Rider game this weekend, I have the resource, both the organizational resources as well as the financial resources to arrange that. The people that we help don't have those resources. They have no way of getting to Regina to a Rider game or no way of organizing a BBQ with friends or a dance or that sort of thing.

"So that's what our group does. We help organize and fund those events for them that they wouldn't normally be able to attend."

She added that without the United Way, there would be no organization.

"The United Way is 100% of our funding. Without them, we wouldn't be able to do what we do to make the lives better for the people we serve."

"We just decided in the beginning of December we're going to be doing a Christmas craft that they can either give away as a present or help decorate their home. Well, the things that we're going to use to make the craft as well as a renting a facility to make it, it costs money. Everything that we do costs money. And that is 100% United Way that is supporting that so we are very grateful to them."

"I just wanted to do a huge thank you to everyone who does support the United Way and for them to realize that it's because of them, that the lives of people with disabilities are hugely changed."

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